Horse sense

The forthcoming vote in a Swiss referendum which seeks to limit the salary ratio in any company to 1:12 is an interesting example of a way in which citizens can play an active role in both initiating and approving legislation (Report, 15 November). Their constitution provides that, once 100,000 supporting signatures have been collected, the government is obliged to organise the referendum. The outcome of the vote will be binding, the positions taken by the political parties or any other organisations are irrelevant.Karl GehringSheffield

• No need for Dave to despair just yet (Letters, 15 November). All he has to do is lose the next election and then the PM and most of the cabinet will have been to comprehensive schools.Michael PykeLichfield, Staffordshire

• It is an excellent idea for pensioners who can afford the donation, to give their £100 fuel allowance to the Hayian appeal (Letters, 15 November). However, for those of us who've watched in frustration while Royal Mail has been sold off, we can both contribute to the fund and remind the government and the overseas financial investment companies that our spending power in stamps cannot be counted on. This year all my Christmas greetings will go via email and the £75 saved in stamps is already on its way to MSF for their work in the Philippines.Joyce BrandLudlow, Shropshire

• Hurray for Hadley Freeman (G2, 13 November). There is nothing complicated about feminism – it just means treating women as equals. But dominant patriarchal (and heteronormative) discourses mean people find this difficult to understand.Jennifer CoatesLondon

• The horses of Achilles speak in the Iliad. Whatever view one takes of the date of Homer, that is some time before Babe in 1995 (Letters, 12 November).David HarveyExeter

• I use them in the potting shed (Letters, 12 November). They cover the seedling trays beautifully and prevent drying out.Ian GarnerKeighley, West Yorkshire